Let me tell you exactly how not to arrive at Valley of Fire State Park. Fly into Vegas, skip lunch, wait in the heat, grab roadside tacos, and then decide to hike anyway. Here's what happened.

There are fall drives and then there is Crawford Notch in early October with fog sitting low over the mountains. They are not the same category.

If you are driving through Franconia Notch in October and you do not stop at The Basin, I need you to turn around. I know that sounds dramatic. I stand by it.